The new obediences in our Province take effect August 1st.  We wish all the newly appointed pastors and associates God’s abundant blessings in their new parish assignments and in their work with the respective parish communities.  We also ask all our Fathers who are moving to send us their new e-mail addresses so that we can be in touch with our regular correspondence and to update our personnel files.

                  Fr. Janusz Jajesniak has been working as the administrator of Our Lady Queen of Poland Parish in Edmonton for the past two years.  He was most recently named pastor of this parish by the Provincial and approved by Bishop Thomas Collins of Edmonton.  Fr. Jajesniak’s appointment takes effect August 1, 2005.  We congratulate Fr. Jajesniak in his new role and wish him God’s abundant graces in the coming years.

                  Marcin Serwin traveled to Poland on July 18 where he will enter the pre-novitiate program and the novitiate at Swiety Krzyz in September.  Meanwhile, Krzysztof Adamiec will enter the novitiate in Godfrey, Illinois on August 16th.  We wish Marcin and Krzysztof a deepening of their faith and perseverance as they begin their lives in the Oblate community.  There is also a possibility of another candidate entering the novitiate this year at Swiety Krzyz.  In his case, a few details must still be worked out.

                  On July 13, St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish was granted diocesan permission to proceed with the addition of the proposed catechetical centre.  The anticipated cost of the construction is $1,688,000.  The Archdiocese of Toronto has also agreed to lend the parish $800,000 over three years to cover the shortfall.

                  This year’s events at the Canadian Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland, Ontario, will take place on Sunday August 14th.  The Polish Priests’ Conference of Eastern Canada has invited Bishop Piotr Libera of Warsaw.  Bishop Libera is Secretary for the Polish Bishops’ Conference.  He will arrive in Canada on August 10th.  On Sunday August 21, Bishop Libera will celebrate the parish Feast Day Mass at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Mississauga.

                  The Toronto District invites you to the Provincial House on Monday, August 15th to celebrate our Province Feast Day – the Assumption of Our Lady.  Our gathering will start at 11:30 a.m. with Mass, celebrated for our deceased Oblates.  At the same time, we will pray in the intention of our Province.  A barbecue will be held after Mass.

                  Our Oblate retreat for 2006 will take place at the Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre from January 8-13, 2006.  Please mark this date in your calendar and be sure not to have any Mass intentions booked during that time (this applies especially to Fathers in the Toronto area).  The congress marking the 50^th anniversary of our Province will take place from June 11-16, 2006, also at Queen of Apostles in Mississauga.

                  With the hot and beautiful summer we have been having, we remind everyone who enjoys boating that effective June of this year new rules apply for boat and sea-doo operators.  A license is required to operate these craft, and it can be obtained online at: http://www.TheOperatorCard.ca  Operation of these craft without a license is subjected to a fine of $250.

                  Towards the end of August, Peter Nowak will renew his vows in Ottawa.  Bishop Gerard Wiesner OMI, who will be leading a retreat for scholastics, will receive Peter’s vows.  May God bless you, Peter!

                  Fr. Marek Czyzycki has published a collection of poems titled „Misja Marka w PRL-u i zachodnich krajach wielu.”  This is a 280-page volume of Fr. Marek’s poetry spanning his entire lifetime.  If anyone would like to obtain a copy, please contact Fr. Czyzycki directly.

                  Given the change of Provincial administration, the Formation Board, Finance Committee, Provincial Treasurer, Renovation and Planning Committee, Archives, Superior of Provincial House, Vocations Directors, Formation Committee, Ongoing Formation Director, Seniors Committee, MAMI etc. have been dissolved.  If any of our Fathers is interested in working for any of the above committees, please contact Father Provincial.  The commissions and groups will re-form during the first sitting of the Provincial Council, which will take place from October 10-15.

Confreres celebrating birthdays in August:

        August 3             Marian Gil
        August 3             Janusz Jajesniak
        August 8             Antoni Mendrela
        August 14           John Mazur
        August 20           Marcin Rosiński

We wish a happy birthday to all celebrating.  May God bless you abundantly.

We remember the following deceased confreres:

        August 11, 1999         Antoni Rabiega
        August 18, 1989         Stanley Puchniak
        August 30, 1994         Jan Sajewicz

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord.
And may perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of the faithfully departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.